Best Lightweight Laptops

Somewhere between a full-size laptop and a trim little tablet, you'll find this category of powerful, lightweight computers. Just in time for going back to school, we tested eight ultrabooks, including Apple's MacBook Air, to pick the perfect study partners.

Best Overall

MODEL: Dell XPS 13

$1,000 (starting) to $1,500 (as tested)

PROS:

Not only was this stylish, compact Dell ranked highest by testers, but it was also our top lab performer for its long battery life (over 5 hours), high-definition video quality, boot-up and program start-up times, and ergonomically designed keyboard.

CONS:

Its lightness makes it prone to tipping off your lap; the Dell has just two USB ports and no SD card slot; and the touchpad occasionally misinterpreted hand gestures.

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